Pipe joint



Patented Jan. 24, 1950 Alfred C. Arbogast, Elkhart, Ind., assignor toNorthern Indiana Brass Company, Elkhart, 11111., a corporation ofIndiana FFICE Original application February 3, 1947, Serial No. 726,041.Divided and this application January 19, 1948, Serial No. 3,102

Claims. (Cl. 285-194) The present invention relates to apparatus foreffecting joints between tubular members or pipes.

The present application is a division of my though the outer diameter ofthe tubes being joined may vary substantially.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a split ringfor the purpose referred prior copending application Serial No. 726,0415 to which facilitates the centering or aligning of filed February 3,1947. the ring directly over the butt joint between the In my priorcopending applications, Serial Nos. ends of pipe sections to be joined.591,959 and 691,960 filed August 21, 1946, now It is a further object ofthe present invention abandoned, there is disclosed a method of effecttoprovide means for effecting tube joints of the ing pipe joints whichcomprises essentially the type referred to which are also useful in theprovision of a tubular fitting over abutting ends preliminary assemblyof sections of tubing. of two pipe sections, in which the space betweenIt is a further object of the present invention the abutting ends of thepipe fittings and the to provide a split ring for the purpose describedspace between the outer surface of the ends of which is modified so asto provide a stronger the pipe fittings and the inner surface of thejoint between the split ends thereof in the comtubular fitting is suchas to effect capillary flow pleted p of moheh metal between the saidsurfaces. This It s a f r object of the p s n nv ntion metal may beprovided as a solder or brazing to p o apparatus for fi c i a tightclampmetal or it may be provided by melting the mateing of a split ringover the abutting ends of pipe rial of the ring so as to efiect a weld.In either Sections which includes means for tightening the case the flowof the melted metal continues sp i ring on the pip s cti n w h m ans aythroughout the extent of the aforesaid spaces and b6 removed afterC0mp16ti0n 0f the joint to terminates at their edges so that in thefinal p v the pp n thereof. product the interior of the pipe joint issubstanother Objects a d features Of the invention tially smooth. Thusthere is avoided the prowill become apparent as the rip i n p oceeds,vision of projections inwardly into the path of especially w n taken n jt on with the flow of material in the pipe and at the same w p y gdrawin wherein! time there is avoided the provision of recesses Figure 1is an end e evation of a pip joint or cavities at the joint in whichmaterial could produced in accordance With the p e t invenaccumulate. Aspointed out in the prior applicao tions, Serial Nos. 691,959 and691,960, the inveni re 2 is a id eleva ion as seen from the tion isparticularly useful in connection with right in Figure thimwaned tubingFigure 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure In order that capillaryflow shall take place Shown in Figure between the aforesaid spaces inthe manner ree t0 e fi u es, the e is illustrated a ferred to, it isessential that the spaces between Joint effected between p c s 9 and Hthe said surfaces shall be rather closely mainwhich are in 6nd abuttingat o t e abuttaihed as to tolerance. It is found in practice men?between the ends of the p n s ti ns H1 that tubes of Stainless steel,Monel, income} and H being along the line 12 as seen in Figure niskeland the fike have commercial tolerances 3. Directly over the line ofabutment l2 and censuch that it is impossible to provide continuous term9 aligned Wlth respect h t is Split rings which will in all casesinterfit with the clamping As P seen m 2) one outer surfaces of thetubes in a manner which end of the Campmg g is Provided- With a willefiect capillary flow of melted metal there cess and h P end of the b time 1s provided with a tongue l5 wh ch is In accordance with the presentinvention, there if i y? wltlilm t recess. A5 ..1SC1CS60. in my prloiapplications, Serial Nos. is substituted for the continuous ring a split691959 a a .a 691,960, and as shown. in the drawclamping ring which maybe tightened down upon the Eta] s nrefemb, of SN or l th 1 the ends ofthe tubes so as to interfit therewith r b 35, 1 -l t -.-0 same thicknessas the thin-walled tubing.

in a manner which will provide for capillary flow of melted metaltherebetween.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus foreffecting a capillary flow of melted metal in producing tube joints,even clamping screw 23 is provided which extends to an opening in one ofthe ears 22 and which is threadedly received within the other of saidears. The clamping screw 23 serves to draw the cars 22 together so as toeffect a firm clamping by the split ring IS on the ends of the tubes IDand II.

The provision of the split ring as above defined permits the formationof a joint by the capillary flow of melted metal as described in myprior copending applications, even though the adjacent ends of the tubesIE1 and l i may be of appreciably different outside diameter. It furtherhas the effect of insuring exact alignment of the ends of the pipesections and corrects or overcomes any ovality which may exist therein.Within the limits of commercial tolerances, the provision of the splitring permits the formation of the joint by the capillary flow of metalas previously outlined.

The ring it is a permanent part of the joint and by the provision oftherecess h and tongue iii, the strength of the ring in the completed jointis substantially increased, as will be readily apparent. In addition,the provision of the tongue and recess provides means by which the ringmay be accurately aligned with or centered over the joint it between theends of the pipe sections it and il. Thus when the ring is first placedover the ends of abuttin pipe sections there will be sufficient spacebetween the adjacent ends thereof and particularly between the end ofthe tongue g 55 and the bottom of the recess i i to observe theposition. of the ends of the pipe sections. It is therefore possibleaccurately to position the ring over the joint 52 by comparing thecenter of the tongue it with the joint.

One important advantage of the present apparatus for effecting pipejoints is in preliminarily positioning a number of pipe sections priorto effecting a permanent joint between any of the sections. Inasmuch asthe split ring is sufficiently flexible to exert positive clampingpressure upon both ends of the adjacent pipe sections, it may be reliedupon to retain the pipe sections in preliminary assembled relationship.It is therefore possible to assemble a large number of pipe sections,depending upon the split clamping ring to retain the pipe sections inassembled relationship. After the assembly has been completed and it isdetermined that the pipe sections are properly positioned andinterrelated, joints be effected by providing molten metal to effect thecapillary flow previously referred to.

Preferably th inner corners of the clamping members Zil are scored asindicated at 25 in Figure ter the joint has been completed and themolten metal which has, flowed between adjacent surfaces has set, theclamping screw 23 may be removed and the outwardly projecting ears 22may be broken off by repeated bending. The score 25. facilitates thebreaking of the ears and locates a line of weakness along which the earswill break. At the same time the provision of the score in the positiondescribed does not materially weaken the, cars so as to deleteriouslyaffect the clamping operation.

The present invention is applicable to a wide variety of materials andmay be used to effect either soldered, brazed or welded joints, all asclearly set forth in my prior copending applications. For the purpose ofclarity, however, it is pointed out here that the operation of brazingor soldering may be carried out by introducing molten brazing orsoldering material along the edges of the ring in a manner to facilitatecapillary flow of the molten metal between the outer surfaces of theabutting ends of the tube sections and the inner surface of the clampingring. The abutting ends of the pipe sections are previously squared andbrought into close surface to surface contact so that the capillary flowcontinues to the inner surfaces of the pipe sections. It is acharacteristic of capillary flow that it will not extend beyond thesurfaces which are in capillary relationship to each other so that themolten metal will not extend inwardly beyond the end surfaces of thepipe sections. Alternatively, instead of introducing soldering orbrazing material at the edges of the ring, the molten material eifectingcapillary flow may be produced by applying a welding flame to the centerof the ring in a manner to melt the material of the ring at the innersurface thereof and to thus effect a capillary flow of welding material.

By the modification in structure disclosed herein, the utility of thebroad method illustrated and described in my prior copendingapplications is materially enlarged, and in fact by employing theteachings of the present invention it is applicable to substantially allcommercial sizes of metal pipes and tubes. irrespective of material. Itmay be mentioned that in forming tubes of certain materials referred toat the outset it is impractical to maintain tolerances at outsidediameter within sufficiently close limits as to permit'completion ofjoints of the type described with continuous rings. However, by theprovision of the split adjustable clamping ring illustrated herein it ispossible to effect the new and improved joint even though there may besubstantial variation in outside diameters at the ends of the pipes ortube sections.

While there is illustrated and described in considerable detail apreferred embodiment of apparatus for effecting tube joints, it will beappreciated that t is has been done merely to enable those skilled inthe art to practice the invention, the truescope of which is indicatedby the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A flexible, metal split ring for use in forming joints in thin-walledtubing and to become a permanent part of the joint, the ends of saidring having interfitting circumferentially extending portions, clampingears adjacent the ends of said ring, and means extending between saidears for drawing the ends of said ring toward each other to clamp saidring tightly over the abutting ends of a pair of tube sections, saidring being formed of continuous smooth metal stock adapted to fit withcapillary closeness to the exterior of the tube sections to bepermanently united thereto by fiow of metal therebetween.

2. A flexible, metal split ring for use in forming joints in thin-walledtubing and to become a permanent part of the joint, the ends of saidring having interfitting circumferentially extending tongue and recessportions, clamping ears adjacent the ends of said. ring, and meansextending between said ears for drawing the ends of said ring towardeach other to clamp said ring tightly over the abutting ends of a pairof tube sections, said ring being formed of continuous smooth metalstock, adapted to fit with capillary closeness to the exterior of thetube sections to be permanently united thereto by fiow of metaltherebetween.

3. A flexible, metal split ring for use in forming joints in thin-walledtubing and to become a permanent part of the joint, the ends of saidring having interfittlng circumferentially extending portions, clampingears adjacent the ends of said ring, and means extending between saidears for drawing the ends of said ring toward each other to clamp saidring tightly over the abutting ends of a pair of tube sections, saidring being formed of continuous smooth metal stock adapted to fit withcapillary closeness to the exterior of the tube sections to bepermanently united thereto by flow of metal therebetween, said earsbeing weakened to facilitate removal by bending after completion of thejoint.

i. A flexible, metal split ring for use in forming joints in thin-walledtubing and to become a permanent part of the joint, the ends of saidring having interfitting circumferentially extending portions, clampingears adjacent the ends of said ring, and means extending between saidears for drawing the ends of said ring toward each other to clamp saidring tightly over the abutting ends of a pair of tube sections, saidring being formed of continuous smooth metal stock adapted to fit withcapillary closeness to the exterior of the tube sections to bepermanently united thereto by flow of metal therebetween, said earshaving weakening scores thereon to facilitate removal by bending aftercompletion of the joint.

5. A flexible, metal split ring for use in forming joints in thin-walledtubing and to become a permanent part of the joint, the ends of saidring having interfitting circumferentially extending, symmetricallyformed tongue and recess locating portions, clamping ears adjacent theends of said ring, and means associated with said ears for drawing theends of said ring toward each other to clamp said ring tightly over theabutting ends of a pair of tube sections, said ring being formed ofcontinuous smooth metal stock adapted to fit with capillary closeness tothe exterior of the tube sections to be permanently united thereto byflow of metal therebetween.

ALFRED C. ARBOGAST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,345,543 Muth July 6, 19201,816,421 Clark et al July 28, 1931 1,825,062 l-Ieaton et al. Sept. 29,1931 1,866,857 Lindquist July 12, 1932 2,050,728 0st Aug. 11, 19362,269,664 Hallerberg Jan. 13, 1942

